Full Breakdown
Marsha Blackburn’s AI-Generated Kendrick Lamar Clip Sparks Backlash Amid Push for “No Fakes” Legislation
By Drooid · · How we work
The AI Video and Immediate Fallout
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) posted a 12-second AI-generated clip on X on October 13, depicting herself lip-syncing to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” while fellow Tennessee Republicans Rep. Tim Burchett, Sen. Bill Hagerty, state Sen. Brent Taylor and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs (as WWE’s Kane) appear as background dancers. The caption read, “Tomorrow. Ready to roll.” Within hours the post attracted more than 2.2 million views on X, according to thehill, and was inundated with criticism labeling the effort “cringe” and “AI slop.”
Background: Prior Stance on Deepfakes and Legislative Efforts
Blackburn has long positioned herself against unlicensed AI deepfakes. In May 2025 she co-authored the bipartisan No Fakes Act with Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Thom Tillis and Chris Coons, aiming to give creators legal standing to protect their voice and visual likenesses. Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, which added voice-protection provisions to state law, took effect on July 1, 2024. The senator has repeatedly argued that AI should be regulated to prevent exploitation of artists and other Americans.
Official Statements & Responses
Blackburn told reporters the video originated from a county commissioner and was shared because she found it “fun.” She emphasized that the clip was not intended to offend Black Americans, noting that the song’s lyrical content reflects a broader artistic rivalry rather than a cultural slight. In a November 2024 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, she described the No Fakes Act as a means to give creators “extra protection” and to ensure they have a legal right to defend their work.
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green seized on the controversy, posting on X, “When I say please stop using AI to support our campaign, this is what I mean…,” directly condemning Blackburn’s use of the deepfake. Numerous X users echoed Green’s sentiment, calling the video a misguided stunt and urging its removal.
Data & Statistics
Timeline
- July 1, 2024 – Tennessee’s ELVIS Act takes effect, extending voice-protection statutes.
- September 30 – Blackburn asks the Senate to pass the No Fakes Act without objection.
- October 13 – AI clip posted to promote early voting in the Tennessee governor’s race.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Blackburn asserts a county commissioner created the original AI video, a claim reported by thehill and allhiphop. Other outlets simply describe the clip as “AI-generated” without identifying its source, leaving the precise origin of the footage unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When I say please stop using AI to support our campaign, this is what I mean…,” — Democrat Jerri Green.
- “It was a video that a county commissioner had created, and I thought it was just something that was fun,” — Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
- “This is something that would provide that extra protection for these creators, so whether it’s copying their voice or copying their works, they have a legal standing and a right to defend themself and their creation,” — Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
- “AI should empower innovation, not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission,” — Sen. Marsha Blackburn.